SMART Goal Setting: A Surefire Way To Achieve Your Goals

I encourage you to pick up a pen and a piece of paper and jot down the goals you want to reach. Look at each goal and evaluate it. Make any changes necessary to ensure it meets the criteria for a SMART goals:

S = Specific

M = Measurable

A = Attainable

R = Realistic

T = Timely

Specific

Goals should be straightforward and emphasize what you want to happen. Specifics help us to focus our efforts and clearly define what we are going to do.

Specific is the What, Why, and How of the SMART model.

WHAT are you going to do? Use action words such as direct, organize, coordinate, lead, develop, plan, build etc.

WHY is this important to do at this time? What do you want to ultimately accomplish?

HOW are you going to do it? (By…)

Ensure the goals you set is very specific, clear and easy. Instead of setting a goal to lose weight or be healthier, set a specific goal to lose 2cm off your waistline or to walk 5 miles at an aerobically challenging pace.

Measurable

If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. In the broadest sense, the whole goal statement is a measure for the project; if the goal is accomplished, the is a success. However, there are usually several short-term or small measurements that can be built into the goal.

Choose a goal with measurable progress, so you can see the change occur. How will you see when you reach your goal? Be specific! “I want to read 3 chapter books of 100 pages on my own before my birthday” shows the specific target to be measure. “I want to be a good reader” is not as measurable.

Establish concrete criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of each goal you set. When you measure your progress, you stay on track, reach your target dates, and experience the exhilaration of achievement that spurs you on to continued effort required to reach your goals.

Attainable

When you identify goals that are most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true. You develop that attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them. Your begin seeing previously overlooked opportunities to bring yourself closer to the achievement of your goals.

Goals you set which are too far out of your reach, you probably won’t commit to doing. Although you may start with the best of intentions, the knowledge that it’s too much for you means your subconscious will keep reminding you of this fact and will stop you from even giving it your best.

A goal needs to stretch you slightly so you feel you can do it and it will need a real commitment from you. For instance, if you aim to lose 20lbs in one week, we all know that isn’t achievable. But setting a goal to loose 1lb and when you’ve achieved that, aiming to lose a further 1lb, will keep it achievable for you.

The feeling of success which this brings helps you to remain motivated.

Realistic

This is not a synonym for “easy.” Realistic, in this case, means “do-able.” It means that the learning curve is not a vertical slope; that the skills needed to do the work are available; that the project fits with the overall strategy and goals of the organization. A realistic project may push the skills and knowledge of the people working on it but it shouldn’t break them.

Devise a plan or a way of getting there which makes the goal realistic. The goal needs to be realistic for you and where you are at the moment. A goal of never again eating sweets, cakes, crisps and chocolate may not be realistic for someone who really enjoys these foods.

For instance, it may be more realistic to set a goal of eating a piece of fruit each day instead of one sweet item. You can then choose to work towards reducing the amount of sweet products gradually as and when this feels realistic for you.

Be sure to set goals that you can attain with some effort! Too difficult and you set the stage for failure, but too low sends the message that you aren’t very capable. Set the bar high enough for a satisfying achievement!

Timely

Set a timeframe for the goal: for next week, in three months, by fifth grade. Putting an end point on your goal gives you a clear target to work towards.

If you don’t set a time, the commitment is too vague. It tends not to happen because you feel you can start at any time. Without a time limit, there’s no urgency to start taking action now.

Time must be measurable, attainable and realistic.

Everyone will benefit from goals and objectives if they are SMART. SMART, is the instrument to apply in setting your goals and objectives.

58 Comments

These steps are very necessary and a
must follow. If you just look at “Realistic” or “do able,” it is
hard to define what it truly is for each individual. This is why sometimes goal
setting does not work or is too easy. “Realistic” must be a
stretch and I would recommend just a little out of your “do able”
range. Are you willing to stretch yourself or just play it safe?

Marsha
January 28, 2014

After reading all the materials, helps me to set better goals at achieving and setting a
pattern of study. Learning how to specific , attainable, timely, measurable, realistic about every assignment. Never set goals to high that are not reachable. Always stay
within my means and stay focus. This some good guidelines to follow and help with
everyday life as well. THANKS FOR SHARING!

Marsha
January 28, 2014

Smart Goal Setting gives me the tools to reach a level of success. It explain what I
need to use to make sure that I am on the right track to accomplish my goal. To be commit to my studies.

Glenn Daniels
February 15, 2014

A short cut to setting “Specific” goals is to take a few minutes and see every detail of goals in your minds eye. This is a powerful method and I would suggest you give it a try. Right now take a moment and view a typical day 1 or 2 days after you have achieved your goal. How does that day look, feel, smell and maybe even taste?
Do this quick exercise and see the “S” of SMART goal setting right now.

Whaddup!
July 20, 2014

Time to take a dump

leland dunbar
July 28, 2014

Meg I think that is a good stress reliever

Sheila Mcguire
August 3, 2014

That is a very good point. I am writing a paper on my college goals and the realistic part with a positive note has befuddled me. This little advise is sending me to paper… My goals will depend on myself and education and what I can control in it… Thanks

Monte187
August 4, 2014

I thing the strategies above are great tools to help accomplish your goals. I haven’t tried them per say. I just use self discipline to accomplish my goals.